Linseed Oil Questions

H

Henryseale

Joined
Sep 9, 2012
Messages
9
I have noticed that several here soak their handles in a bath of linseed oil either before or after they install it on a head. I understand the preservative quality of linseed oil, but why is this deemed desirable instead of slathering on a couple of coats a few days apart a couple of times? Also, doesn't this make the handle swell, making it harder to install the head? Would it not be better to install the head, then apply the oil? I am rather new at this and trying to learn from other's experiences.

Also I've run across some warnings about linseed oil spontaneously combusting when it dries on rags? What's up with that? I've used linseed oil on gun stocks for years and never had any such problems. It apparerantly does not do that to wood, so why would it do so to rags? I don't see any warning labels on the cans of BLO that I have. Please advise. Thanks!
 
I don't know about the first part.. I tend to oil after the axe is together. The business about rags starting fires is true though, I saw a dumpster at work catch fire from one of these. As I understand it as the oil dries it gives off heat, and if the rag is all bundled up the heat can't get out fast enough sometimes and it can catch the rags on fire. I'm sure there's a better, more technical explanation. But it bears being careful in any case.
 
I tend to agree with the adage of applying linseed. "Once a day for a week. Once a week for a month. Once a month for a year. And as you like after that." Disclosure: I've been trying out WD40 lately, on both heads and helves, which seems to work ok. Time will tell.
 
I tried soaking - seems to do very little or nothing for long term. To be honest its counter productive to the process of how I use linseed oil which is to slowly build up layers which requires drying in between. Straight linseed / BLO is far from thin enough to slowly soak in, deeply into the wood. Several layers, with time to dry in between seems the most effective for creating a nice weatherproof finish.
 
Its not just BLO rags that can start fires. I think it is oil based stains and finishes also.
 
Linseed is ok - do you have to apply it multiple times? No. As nick said, I like WD40. I have been using it for some time, with no ill effects. Linseed is nice though, but u do have to watch the rags.

I have never found a situation where 15 coats of linseed protects better than 2.

Hope this helps.
 
Yeah, linseed oil soaked rags can combust. I've never had it happen but I know someone who it has happened to.
Paint shops have burnt down because of it. Once awhile back, my old boss had a bucket of oil stained rags combust in the back of his truck. When I worked in a paint shop, all of our oil based stain rags went into a bucket of water and then set outside to evaporate.
It's not so much of a danger in cooler weather, though.
Also, the wind played a factor with the rags in the back of the truck.
 
Also sun will speed up the combustion process greatly in rags. I've had some old timers tell me that in their day, they'd dip a rag in BLO and set in in the sun when the started lunch. When the rag burst into flames it meant about 30 mins had passed and it was time to get back to work. I've never actually tried it but it sounds fun.
 
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